October Celebrations

HILLARY LAUREN is a 5th generation chef with a passion for seasonality, sustainability, and raising awareness of the impact of food security. Her culinary endeavors developed over countless hours perched on her grandma EdyeBelle's kitchen counter scribbling notes, or cutting curly fries and syruping rainbows on snow cones at her family's cafes in Idaho. This foundational joy was honed at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and Napa Valley, refined at the Bouchon Bakery and Swanson Vineyards in Napa Valley, explored while with Bon Appetit at Google's Mountain View headquarters, and creatively driven after developing food allergies in the midst of her culinary career. She supports others as a private chef, certified nutrition coach, and consultant—forever curious to learn more about the healing powers of food. hillary established Pickle Pie Publishing to self-publish her book, 366 Menus of Celebrations, after learning more about the constraints, limitations, and expenses while comparing possibilities within the established publishing system. She hopes to help others self-publish their books and share the joy of authorship with many. She lives and plays on an island in the Pacific Northwest with her sweet suitor and a revolving menagerie of animals. When not experimenting in her kitchen, she can be found with soil-stained hands walking barefoot in the garden, quietly reading in a cozy corner, or dreaming up stories of the seasonal flora, furry fauna, and funky fungi. She finds joy in perusing grocery shelves and market stalls, foraging wild edibles, and sharing the delights of afternoon tea.